The woman, who sustained injuries, was waiting at a nearby traffic signal when the incident occurred.

The mishap reportedly took place after the dog’s owner and a passenger parked the vehicle near a Short Stop—a baseball-themed gas station and convenience store—and briefly went inside the shop.

According to KNOP News, the unusual incident unfolded when the dog triggered a loaded shotgun left inside the vehicle, causing the firearm to discharge. The passenger inside the truck witnessed the shocking episode.

Initially, Scottsbluff police were informed that a BB gun had been fired. However, the situation was later reassessed when officers discovered a startled dog and a smoking shotgun inside the vehicle, the New York Post reported.

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Authorities said the victim was shot in the arm and taken to hospital. Her injuries are reported to be non-life-threatening.

Under Nebraska law, carrying a loaded shotgun in a vehicle while driving on a highway is prohibited. Such violations are treated as low-level misdemeanours, carrying penalties that can include fines starting from $50.